What it takes to destroy a JVC TV-VHS VCR combo in Tompkins Square Park

EVG TV-VHS VCR combo correspondent Steven noted this scene today in Tompkins Square Park...





No word on who did this. Three bricks – three perpetrators? Anyway, it may still work. Will test with my VHS copy of "Outrageous Fortune."

A familiar Voice returning to Cooper Square

[EVG photo from October]

The Village Voice, which ceased its print edition last September, is returning to its longtime former home at 36 Cooper Square.

Per The Real Deal, who first reported on this move:

The publication occupied the building from 1991 to 2013, with a space ultimately spanning four floors.

As the staff shrunk and it stuttered financially, the Voice decamped for the Financial District, where it took 12,000 square feet at Normandy Real Estate Partners’ 80 Maiden Lane.

Grace Church School has since taken much of the Voice’s old space on Cooper Square, but the media company is grabbing 5,860 square feet across part of two floors, a shadow of its former self.

The Voice's staff of 25 is expected to move in some time this spring, according to TRD.

At East Yoga Center

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

On a recent blustery Friday evening, I stopped by the warm and cozy East Yoga Center, on the second floor at 96 Avenue B near Sixth Street, to talk with studio manager and yoga instructor Amber Gregory. During our conversation, I learned more about the studio, the January push toward wellness and yoga in general.



Tell me a little bit about East Yoga Center and how it began.

East Yoga has always been a refuge in the heart of the East Village and a place where one can find approachable yoga instruction for every body. Originally founded by Kari Harendorf, we started on 13th Street and Avenue C in the early 2000s. Then about 10 years ago, Kari moved away and Katie Childers, a passionate student at the time, decided to take over to keep East Yoga alive and well. 

Since then, we’ve weathered plenty of challenges including flooding from [superstorm] Sandy, a fire that came just after the floods, and the need to find a new home.  We’ve thankfully been able to survive and thrive because of all of our dedicated students and teachers in the East Village community who have stayed with us and supported us throughout the process. We love the East Village!

You advertise as a vinyasa studio. What is vinyasa-style yoga and what makes East Yoga different than other yoga studios or gyms?

Vinyasa is a flow style of yoga, where we coordinate breath with movement between postures. East Yoga supports a safe, fun, alignment-focused practice. We are different than other yoga studios and gyms because we are able to offer a greater amount of individual attention within a supportive, home-grown community. 



How would you describe the community of people at East Yoga?

Community is the best, most important thing we have going at East Yoga. We are a down-to-earth, fun-loving group of East Village locals.

You’ve been in the East Village for more than a decade now. What’s the best thing about being here?

It’s home! And all of the interesting, cool people who come to practice with us have become part of our extended family. When you walk into East Yoga, you can sense that vibe. We try to create a judgment-free, comfortable space, with supportive and understanding teachers, students, and staff.



Do you see an influx of new participants at the start of the new year?

January is always a time of year when we see an influx of new students. We’re happy to support everyone’s efforts toward better health with their resolutions, and we hope they’ll stay committed throughout the year!

Do you find that people stick with yoga after getting started? What tips or advice can you offer people who are new to yoga to help them?

Many people get hooked from day one. There is nothing else like yoga to make you feel connected to yourself while gaining immense health benefits. If you are new to yoga, we’d suggest starting with our basics class to get a solid foundation of postures and alignment. If you can make yoga part of your regular routine and create a schedule that is sustainable for you, you will quickly see the benefits that yoga can bring to anyone.

Another broker for the former Chase branch on Avenue A

As noted yesterday, the Santander branch on Avenue A and Fourth Street will close on April 27. Neither here nor there but this will make Avenue A bank-branch free in late April. (Unless one opens before then...)

The Chase branch at 20 Avenue A and Second Street closed in November 2015 ... and that space remains on the market.

Late last week, a new wraparound for-lease sign arrived via Eastern Consolidated... and this is either the fifth or sixth (or seventh?) broker to try to rent the storefront in the past two-plus years. For example:


[October 2016]


[May 2016]


[February 2016]

Now, Eastern Consolidated has No. 20 listed at $110 per square foot. There's 4,000 square feet on the street level and another 4,000 in the basement. (PDF of the listing here.)

Eastville Comedy Club looked at moving from Fourth Street into part of the space at No. 20. However, CB3 denied the application last October, citing, among other reasons, that this address was never licensed before ... and that it exists in a saturated zone.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The retail-wine bar possibilities for the former Chase space on Avenue A and East 2nd Street

The retail space at 20 Avenue A no longer looks like a bank branch

Last day for Ciao For Now

[Image via Instagram]

In case you missed this post from Friday... Ciao For Now, the cafe-bakery at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is closing after 17 years in business.

Today is the last day. Ciao For Now is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for breakfast and lunch.

Moving forward, the Miceli family will continue on with their online catering business.

Here's part of Ciao For Now's farewell note:

It is difficult to put into words all of the emotions we are feeling. We feel like we gave it everything we’ve got but as we are seeing all over NYC, the retail small business model has become nearly impossible to sustain. We have met so many incredible people along the way.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

No, the Moishe's Bake Shop space is not on the rental market

[File photo by Derek Berg]

Jeremiah Moss yesterday addressed the [fake?] real-estate listing making the rounds for Moishe's Kosher Bake Shop on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

I called the bakery and spoke to Moishe Perl, who also owns the building. He laughed and said, "People always put up these things." He assured me that he did not put up the listing and that he is not closing. He might be doing some renovating over the summer, but that's it.

When I told him the listing said his place will rent for $27,000, he laughed even louder.

Tuesday's parting shot

Early evening photo from Tompkins Square Park by Lola Sāenz...

Countdown to the State of the Union this evening

An EVG reader shared the above photo from Union Square today...

Here's another angle via Instagram and @iluntasuna_dc ... workers were in the process of removing the President Trump inflatable from George Washington's right arm...

Back to the 80s: Celebrating Ray's 85th birthday at Ray's Candy Store

Ray Alvarez, the hard-working proprietor of Ray's Candy Store, turned 85 on Jan. 25.

And, as is recent tradition, some of Ray's friends/regulars threw him a party inside the shop at 113 Avenue A.

Last night's celebration had an 1980s-theme, and featured burlesque dancers Cheeky Lane, Pearls Daily, Lil Miss Lixx, Nasty Canasta and Gal Friday, who took turns to era-friendly classics such as "I Want Candy" and "Material Girl." (The Ray's birthday party celebration with dancers goes back to 2007. Check out Bob Arihood's photos from Ray's 74th birthday bash here.)

EVG correspondent Stacie Joy shared a few photos from last night...




[Cheeky Lane]


[Pearls Daily]


[Gal Friday]



Throughout the evening, friends and longtime regulars stopped by to wish Ray a happy birthday. There was a cake from Veniero's...



Jimmy Webb delivered a gift from his Orchard Street boutique I Need More (there was also a gift from the folks behind the
East Village Vintage Collective on 12th Street) ...







Updated:

Slum Goddess has photos and videos here.

Your chance to hear more about the L train shutdown tomorrow night at the 14th Street Y

[EVG file photo]

The MTA and DOT are hosting a series of joint open-house meetings to address concerns over the upcoming L-train shutdown.

There's a meeting for residents in this area tomorrow (Wednesday!) night from 5-8 at the 14th Street Y, 344 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Per the MTA:

The open houses ... will feature representatives from MTA and NYC DOT and will provide riders with critical information about alternative travel options they can utilize during the 15 months in which the Canarsie Tunnel will be closed for major repairs. MTA personnel will preview some of the measures the organization will take to help move the roughly 225,000 customers who go through the tunnel each weekday, while NYC DOT will discuss its proposed street improvements and treatments during the tunnel repairs.

The shutdown of the L — between Bedford Avenue and Eighth Avenue to repair the Sandy-damaged Canarsie Tunnel — is expected to last 15 months with a start date of April 2019.

MTA and DOT outlined plans for life without the L train last month. Revisit that post here.

East Village Dance Project choreographs move to the Lower East Side

Via the EVG inbox...

East Village Dance Project (EVDP), a dance development program based in the East Village for the past 20 years, recently announced their partnership with Abrons Arts Center, the arts organization and program of Henry Street Settlement located on Grand Street in the Lower East Side.

Commencing with the start of their Winter/Spring semester on January 28, EVDP will relocate all of their youth and teen dance classes to the Abrons’ facilities and will be conducting their registration through Abrons’ system.

The move allows EVDP the ability to teach multiple classes simultaneously in neighboring studios inside Abrons, expanding their class offerings to accommodate age and level. The move to Abrons also provides the fantastic opportunity for EVDP students to perform their spring concert in the historic Playhouse Theater, a venue that has housed a host of dance luminaries since its inception in 1912, including Martha Graham and Agnes de Mille.

Since the start of EVDP, Founder and Director Martha Tornay has been dedicated to making dance available to all, regardless of financial circumstances. Abrons itself has a long-standing commitment to creating arts programs that are financially accessible to the whole community. EVDP classes at Abrons will be offered on a tiered pricing system based on household income, in line with the shared vision of providing all young artists the opportunity for quality dance education.

EVDP's home studio had been at 55 Avenue C at Fourth Street since 2011.

[Updated] Reader report: Santander branch closing in April on Avenue A

An EVG reader writes in: "Ugh! My bank is closing. Santander is still in business but the local branch at Avenue A and Fourth Street is closing in April. Letters set to go out to customers this week or next."

And here is part of the letter, which notes the branch closes at noon on April 27:



After April 27, Avenue A will be bank-branch free for the time being. The Chase branch closed at Second Street in November 2015 ... while the Citi shut down between Third Street and Fourth Street last January.

The Boston-based Santander Bank announced last week that it was raising its minimum wage for employees to $15 per hour.